The Animals

The band burst on to the music scene in 1964, after signing with Columbia Records, recording their debut single, “Baby Let Me Take You Home,” which peaked at number 21 in the UK charts. Their next single was to prove to be a huge hit, with their version of “House of the Rising Sun,” which reached the top spot of both the UK and US charts, making The Animals a music sensation on both sides of the atlantic. These first two singles were both thought to be re-workings of tracks by Bob Dylan but in fact the songs came to them through Josh White. Their self-titled debut album came out shortly after, featuring a host of top ten singles, including “I’m Crying,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place,” followed by their second release, “Animal Tracks.” After these initial recordings, the band struggled to find a consistent lineup, with their keyboardist, Alan Price, leaving the band, being replaced by Dave Rowberry.

Frustrated by being forced into a musical direction they were not happy with, The Animals left Columbia Records and moved to Decca Records, developing a more muscular, driven sound for their debut on the new label, with “Animalisms.” Lineup problems continued following this release, with their drummer, John Steel, leaving the band and Barry Jenkins took his place. By mid-1966, the original shape of the Animals was no more and a new force emerged.

Frontman Eric Burdon re-formed the group, using the name, The New Animals, releasing music as a solo act with the New Animals as his backing band. By 1967-68, they embraced the emerging sound of psychadelia, shaping their music in this vain. The original Animals lineup did however return in 1976, recording the well-received “Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted,” although despite critical praise, it failed to attract the same attention from the record-buying public as previous releases had. Although several years later, in 1983, “Ark,” an album of entirely new material, managed to achieve chart success, prompting world tours. The band disbanded after their touring had come to an end. However, Eric Burdon continued to keep the flame alive and continued to perform as Eric Burdon and the Animals well into the 2000s, touring in various forms for over two decades. Two of their songs, “House of the Rising Sun” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” are included in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.